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Friday, April 01, 2011

Hi friends! On April 5, my blog will be having a 5th birthday! I am really excited about this and have some giveaways for a few lucky readers... make sure you stop by every day for the next 5 days, ok?

First off though I'm going to get all reminiscent... how did this thing get started? Well I had a couple of blogs before this one; one was in 2002 when we lived in Oregon for the summer for my husband's MBA internship, with the idea that family could keep track of what we were up to. And then after that I kept a personal blog for a while but I wasn't ever 100% comfortable with the idea (or the name I had chosen) and eventually I scrapped (and deleted) it.

Then I wanted to start a blog again, and decided to focus mainly on my sewing and see how it went. I just glanced through all 20 of my 2006 entries, and isn't it great that people can grow and change? My writing then reminds me of how I write in my personal journal, and I think I write differently now. I guess I had no audience at first though, and now I do, and I try to keep that in mind. I was dabbling in sewing things to sell on etsy/ebay too, which I didn't enjoy terribly much. Also, not really quilting very much.

Anyway, probably my favorite post from that first year is in April (and it doesn't have its' own permalink, how weird is that?) when I was complaining about my second child giving up naps. I'm going through that now with my third child, but she's 29 months old now and he was 21 months old when he did this. Other than that, it's pretty much the same.

So... moving on to the giveaway!
Today's giveaway is sponsored by Sew Inspired Quilts in Nauvoo, Illinois. Please visit their website and see what they have to offer! They have generously donated 2 charm packs for today's giveaway:

Modern Workshop

and

Sherbet Pips!

One lucky winner will receive both charm packs. To enter, all you need to do is leave one comment on this post. I'd love it if you make it a little interesting, but you can go ahead and say "pick me!" if that's all you have.

Now for the fine print:

*This giveaway will be open for 3 days. I will close comments and pick a winner on April 3 at 10:00 pm central (or I might be a little late. It won't be earlier than then).

*You must leave me a way to contact you! If you are not sure if your email address comes through with your comments (I get them emailed to me), check out this excellent explanation on the Pleasant Home blog. If you want, you can include your email address in your comment. If I draw a name that has no contact information, I will pick another winner.

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comments:

Happy 5th birthday to be! I hadn't seen the modern workshop fabrics before but love their geometry. And the pips I have been hankering after for some time now!Fingers crossed (hillwards AT gmail DOT com)

Happy 5th Birthday! When I go back and look at things I've written in a journal or letter, I'm amazed at how much my writing and handwriting styles have changed. Thanks for your contributions to the quilting world! Thanks........

Happy 5th! Those charm packs are so cute! I'm actually in the process of doing one of your quiltalongs with a Moda Wee Woodland jelly roll - it's going to look funky (hopefully in a good way!). Stay inspired!

How times flies even more when you have little ones to take care of! Good for you - enjoy! I have a five month old grandchild who I just adore and can't believe he's been with us almost half a year already! thanks for the chance!

Congratulations on your upcoming 5th Anniversary!!! My favorite tutorial is your binding tutorial. I am not a quilter, and this helped me so much when I started making doll quilts :) I refer to whenever I am binding (cause I have no memory) and it's great! Thanks for the great give away chance :)

5 years...thats fab...congrats...now...seriously...i need to win this...i need something new to inspire me to get sewing...our winter is coming up and some new little bits would be fabulous...hugs...xxx

I love that you are talking about your blog's beginnings! It is a good way to celebrate #5...but then of course if you continued the thread as you approach #5 that would be great! bethmcdonald89@yahoo.com

AND, on April 6, it will be the 14th anniversary of my 29th year (you can figure that one out). So, I think this would be an AWESOME birthday present - better than those coupons for a birthday dinner!!!

Happy 5th Birthday! and may you have many more.I love your blog. HAHA as i type this i look down and see your march 30th blog and notice that you don't always follow the rules, yeah you!!! What i refer to is the quilt you have laid out on the floor, 3nd row from the bottom, the yellow square and now i see the gray/black square are slightly different! yea! you!! I ,also will leave my email herequiltingbug619@yahoo.com or you can us the other one also.thanks for the chance to win the charm packs!!!

I agree with you about the dumbing down of quilts. Quilters do what they love (and have for ages) and making any quilt is an effort of love and we all benefit abd learn from that. It takes a lot of thought, energy and effort to make them all. None of that is dumb! Congrats on your 5th anniversary. I would love a chance to win those charms.

Happy blog anniversary! I am 5 months into blogging myself. I enjoy it. Still a small follower list but at least someone is looking at what I am creating. My family's 'oohs' and 'ahhs' aren't always sincere. Not because they aren't great people - they truly are - but their excitement over new fabric does not come anywhere close to mine.

Congrats on 5 years. The Modern Workshop looks interesting. If I don't win, gonna have to purchase. Already in love with the Pips. BTW, enjoyed your blog about dumbingdown quilts. I thought you handled that very well.

I've been focused on creams and browns lately, but I do love the colour and whimsy in both of these charm packs. :) Happy 5th Anniversary!P.S. I can really relate to the whole idea of trying to find the right blogging fit. I've started many blogs over the years, and I still don't feel like I've found the one that's really me. But I'm working on it.

Congratulations on 5 years! I have discovered your blog recently (through one of the other talented Kansas quilters, I think) Anyway, I have been inspired by your blog and I appreciate the effort that you make to share with us! Thanks for the opportunity to win one of these charm packs!

how exciting to have 5 yrs on your blog. congrats! i have had a number of blogs over the yrs too but i seem to post less with each blog. great giveaway. i will have to check where nauvoo is, as i live in illinois but have never heard of it!

Congrates to five years! I have signed up for your news letter and for the sponsor of the nice charm packs. I have visited their store and think its very nice. Thank you for aa chance to win and a store to visit.

Excellent giveaway! It's nice to see that you've got staying power - 5 years is a long time! I've been blogging for about 4 and it seems like it's flown by, but then I see people who've been doing it for only a year and they're so together... It's a big bloggy world out there, huh?